The 8 best tours of Arequipa
Arequipa is one of the best tourist destinations in Peru. There you can visit incredible tourist attractions such as the Colca Canyon, the Pillones waterfall, the Imata stone forest, the Misti volcano, the Salinas and Aguada Blanca reserves and more. In this article we present eight options for your trip to Arequipa. Learn about their prices and what each of these services includes.
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City Tour Arequipa
The City Tour Arequipa is the tourist service most requested by visitors who come to the ‘White City’. Services may vary depending on the tourism agency you choose. However, in general they include: the Cathedral of Arequipa, the Yanahuara viewpoint, the church of the Society of Jesus and the monastery of Santa Catalina.
The Arequipa City Tour lasts approximately 3 hours 30 minutes (from 2 to 5:30 in the afternoon and from 9 to 12:30 in the morning). Most tourists decide to perform this service on the first day of their trip through Arequipa. Thus, after acclimatizing, the next day they decide to visit the Colca Canyon and the other tourist attractions in the region.
- Included in the tour: Transportation, tickets and tour guide service.
- Approximate price: approximately 30 dollars per tourist.
Colca Canyon Tour
The Colca Canyon is the main tourist attraction in Arequipa and one of the most visited in all of Peru. To visit this destination there are tours of 1, 2 days or more. The 1-day service starts at 3 in the morning and ends at 6 in the afternoon. The 2-day service starts at 8 in the morning. Includes a hotel in the town of Chivay. It ends the next day at 5 pm.
The tour to the Colca Canyon includes a visit to the viewpoint ‘The Flight of the Condor’ where you can see the famous flight of this Andean bird. There are also other multi-day services that include hiking trails through the passes and towns of the canyon. This service can be hired online or in the city of Arequipa.
- Included in the tour: Transportation, entrance fees, hiking guide as well as hotel and meals (in the 2-day tour).
- Approximate price: 40 dollars per tourist for a 1-day service and 60 dollars for a 2-day service.
Rafting tour on the Chili River
This tour offers one of the best adventures on the trip to Arequipa. The Chili River crosses the ‘white city’. It has a length of 23 kilometers and a slope of 1.48%. The tour takes place in the famous grotto of the Virgin of Chapi de Charcano in Cayma (20 minutes from the Main Square). The service lasts approximately 3 hours.
The currents of the Chili River have levels two, three and four. That is, for visitors with little experience and with some knowledge about this sport. The canoe trip is 6 kilometers. That is, almost 1 hour 30 minutes in the water. Of course, the service includes prior training. All with maximum security.
- Included in the tour: Transportation, equipment (canoe, safety equipment) and professional guide.
- Approximate price: approximately 30 dollars per tourist.
Gastronomic Tour in Arequipa
Arequipa is famous for its delicious and varied gastronomy. It has famous dishes such as shrimp chupe, stuffed rocoto, ocopa arequipeña and more. The gastronomic tour of the city includes a visit to the San Camilo market, the most traditional and colorful in Arequipa. It also offers visits to restaurants and old quarters of the city. All in the company of a professional tour guide.
The gastronomic tours of Arequipa may vary depending on the tourism agency you choose. Most of them offer you the tasting of dishes such as the rocoto relleno, the ocopa arequipeña, the soltero de queso or the chicha. Services last approximately 6 hours (from 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon). They can be hired online or in the city of Arequipa.
- Included in the tour: Transportation, professional guide and tastings in the market and restaurants.
- Approximate price: approximately 35 dollars per tourist.
Sillar Route Tour
Arequipa is famous for its colonial and republican constructions made with ashlar. This volcanic stone abounds in this region as a result of the eruptions of volcanoes such as Misti or Chachani. Today the Route of the Sillar tour offers a visit to beautiful constructions and works of art made of this volcanic stone.
The tour lasts approximately 4 hours (from 2 to 6 in the afternoon or from 8.30 to 12.30 in the morning). It includes a visit to the Añashuayco quarry where the ashlar is extracted and works of great beauty are made. The Culebrillas ravine, a new quarry of this stone, is also visited. The service is one of the most famous in the city.
- Included in the tour: Transportation, tickets and professional guide.
- Approximate price: approximately 20 dollars per tourist.
Tour to the Salinas and Aguada Blanca Reserve
The Salinas and Aguada Blanca reserve is a natural area protected by the Peruvian State. Within its area of 366,936 hectares there are incredible landscapes as well as a variety of flora and fauna of great value. The tour allows you to appreciate the salt lake of Salinas, the Misti and Ubinas volcanoes and the snow-capped Pichu Pichu. On the route you can see species of birds such as Andean ducks, pink flamingos, eagles and more.
The departure of the tour is at approximately 6 in the morning. The end is at 4 pm on average. All services allow time to get photos of birds, llamas, alpacas and the imposing Andean landscapes of the place. The tour can be obtained online or in the city of Arequipa.
- Included in the tour: Transportation, tickets and professional guide (some services also include food).
- Approximate price: approximately 40 dollars per tourist.
Tour to the Pillones waterfall and the Imata stone forest
The Pillones waterfall and the Imata stone forest are two of the most beautiful landscapes in Arequipa. The first is a large waterfall where various species of birds live. The second is a set of rock formations made at the whim of erosion and nature.
The 1-day tour to these destinations begins at an average of 6 in the morning in the city of Arequipa. It ends in the same city at approximately 5 in the afternoon. To reach these destinations it is necessary to take a short walk. It is recommended to bring a good camera to capture the landscapes. Some services include breakfast and lunch. Others don’t.
- Included in the tour: Transportation, tickets and professional guide (some services also include food).
- Approximate price: approximately 40 dollars per tourist.
Adventure tour to Misti volcano
The Misti volcano is a symbol of Arequipa. It is 5,822 meters above sea level. It is located just 18 kilometers from the ‘white city’. However, to access its crater it is necessary to walk an average of 10 hours. The tours to there are 2 days and include camping under the stars. The view from there is simply stunning.
The tours start very early with a drive to the base of the volcano. Then there is a 5-hour walk to the chosen camp. The next day an arduous walk of another 5 hours is made again where the Misti crater can be seen. The way back is on foot to the camp and the return to Arequipa by car.
- Included in the tour: Transportation, food, permits, professional guide and utensils.
- Approximate price: 80 dollars per tourist approximately.
By Machupicchu Terra – Last updated, August 28, 2023